Saul Niguez signs nine-year Atletico Madrid deal

Saul Niguez has handed Atletico Madrid a huge boost by signing a new contract which is designed to keep him in the Spanish capital for another nine years.

The 22-year-old join Atletico’s youth system from city rivals Real in 2008, and made his debut as a 17-year-old in the UEFA Europa League four years later. His La Liga debut followed in the following campaign, and he has now gone onto score 22 goals in 148 appearances.

Niguez was the star of the recent European Under-21 Championships, when he scored five goals on the way to the final where Spain were defeated by Germany. Upon his return from the tournament he has signed a new deal with Atletico, which is set to run until the summer of 2026.

“At Atletico we are a family and there is no better place to be,” he said. “I will work my full potential on the field as always to pay back the trust that the club is giving to me. I’d like to thank all my team-mates and the coaching staff for their help day by day so that I can be the player I am today.”

This news has come as a particularly welcome boost for Los Rojiblancos given the transfer ban which means they are unable to register any new players until January. So keeping Niguez, as well as Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann, will make a good summer for Diego Simeone.